Thanasi Kokkinakis advances at French Open after five-set epic

·

After launching his French Open 2024 campaign with a marathon win over fellow Australian Alexei Popyrin, the world No.100 Thanasi Kokkinakis triumphed over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri in another five-set epic.

With his 1-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(7/5), 6-2 victory, the 28-year-old Kokkinakis moves into the French Open third round for the third time in his career.

As often occurs in a Kokkinakis encounter, there were multiple twists and turns in the near four-hour contest, with the Australian undeniably flat in the early stages against the world No.148 Zeppieri. He dropped the first two sets.

The first set passed in 34 minutes, but rain interrupted the second. The players endured a delay of over an hour and it appeared to recharge the Greek Australian.

Kokkinakis came back to win the third set 6-3 and won a tiebreak 7-5 to send the match to a deciding set as they went beyond three hours on court.

With the Italian appearing to fatigue, and treated for a leg complaint, Kokkinakis drew on his experience as he closed out the five-set victory when a Zeppieri forehand sailed long. The match lasted three hours and 45 minutes.

Kokkinakis now prepares to meet No.12 seed Taylor Fritz in the third round.

Source: ABC News.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Two to challenge Androulakis for PASOK leadership at election in October

PASOK president Nikos Androulakis proposed a leadership election to be held on October 6 and 13 this year. Two candidates will challenge him.

Courtney Herron’s killer ordered to spend 25 years in psychiatric hospital

Melbourne man, who bashed Courtney Herron to death in a park in May 2019, has been ordered to serve 25 years at a mental health facility.

Fire tears through Greek refugee camp after coronavirus protest [VIDEO]

A fire has torn through Vial camp on Chios island following protests over the death of a 47-year-old Iraqi asylum seeker who reportedly had a fever.